International Journal of Cell Cloning, Vol 9, 594-605, Copyright © 1991 by AlphaMed Press
Characterization of T lymphocyte clones isolated from BCNU-cured LSA mice
RS Selvan, PS Nagarkatti and M Nagarkatti
Department of Biology, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, State University, Blacksburg.
1,3-Bis(chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU) has been shown to "cure" over 90%
of the mice bearing the syngeneic tumor LSA, and the cured mice acquire
elevated levels of tumor-specific immunity. In the present study, we report
for the first time the establishment and characterization of several
tumor-specific CD8+ cytotoxic T cell (CTL) clones from splenic T cells of
BCNU-cured LSA mice. Many of these clones were found to be strongly
cytotoxic to LSA but not to a different H-2b tumor target such as EL-4, or
the natural killer (NK)- susceptible target YAC-1, NK-resistant target
P815, or con A or LPS blasts from H-2b mice. Some of the clones showed a
moderate level of cytotoxicity to the NK-susceptible target YAC-1. The
relative roles of interleukins such as IL-2, IL-4 or IL-6 in supporting the
proliferative response of some LSA-activated CTL clones were analyzed. As
expected, recombinant human (rh) IL-2 alone supported the proliferative
response of activated CTL clones. Addition of recombinant murine (rm) IL-4
or rhIL-6 alone to the culture failed to influence the response. Also, in
combination with rhIL-2, neither rmIL-4 nor rhIL-6 appreciably augmented
rhIL-2-supported proliferative response of CTL clones. These studies may
provide insights for the development of effective approaches to modulate
function and activity of effector T cells.
